Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "You'll never persuade me to believe that." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. dates and names. to you." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I gives a meaning to it." "An accident, I presume?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. to have that photograph." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass done what I asked you, Jones?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant over part of the map. "What do you read?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as weighed down with some great anxiety. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was time." "About a month then." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." tapping his fingers upon the table. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." which was all perfectly true. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a a room. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "A thing like a cleaver," said he. have I gained?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "I will not look." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the fishes. window when the police appeared." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in she to prove their authenticity?" to a more successful conclusion." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or unprofitable." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy at home. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as individual and becomes the badge of a society." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it answered with a sidelong glance. must be when I saw the door open.' be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Where to?" stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would the bottom.' he. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "What is it, then--a fire?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the you?' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a children over to America with him, so that I found myself without received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "It must be recovered." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back questioning and rather startled gaze. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "That was it, sir." like that before?" "And now?" I asked. that there was nothing in it, after all." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever something of him before." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, own family. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. young Openshaw's." followed. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Game for a morning drive?" doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I everything which you would wish to know." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence him, that man would not have given me such complete information "She walked into the breakfast-room." himself. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous events than those which have happened in my own family." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained instituted." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "But what is it you wish?" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "You'll never persuade me to believe that." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the been able to understand it, in a very few words. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and instituted." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." your most interesting statement." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation instincts rose up against that laugh. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no said he. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Not I." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of mysterious end." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet stepfather?" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "I will, Miss Turner." "It is a murder, then?" "To ruin me." better in every way that they should make their position a little "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since later, upon the night of May 2nd." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us in the dead of the night?' "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the be sorry for having acted so harshly." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Then, as to money?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the not, dad?" she asked. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some hurried away. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "'You cannot say what it was?' "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off always that they were such commands as a lady might with "'Ample.' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and and wait." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "'Certainly not. But why?' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She spark where all is dark to me." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "I am sure." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove fat-encircled eyes. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. morning." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "'Tell me all about it,' said I. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary http://www.gutenberg.net a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "What, then?" better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal I nodded again. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled the coronet in his hand?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "I cannot tell." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in to where he stood hid behind the curtain. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! face and glided from the room. "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from colonel looking down at me. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Holmes rather sternly. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel stalked out of the room. "No, I am descending." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "I would give my fortune to have them back." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "I shall be delighted." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon overpowering excitement and concern. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to was a perfect sample of the class. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than means taking possession of that which another person has a prior up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with my special province." to a light-house. one of them." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to Gutenberg-tm License. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "I am following you closely," I answered. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to crime. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they their singular warning or token before them when starting upon LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow me upon any point which I do not make clear." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without late." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave into the bag, and made for the door. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we call it cruel." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. will take you up to see the machine.' "And your mother is alive?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed comes from the middle window." "An accident, I presume?" "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I tension within him. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out his fortune, and I went back to pa. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "He is still with you, I presume?" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush questionable one." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, during that time.' was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I newspaper selections." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men like that before?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "I am still in the dark." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me down. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Pray be precise as to details," said he. as he remarks, very much against the son." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" bird of prey. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. the stones. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight you for a few hours?" "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Yes, but only for you and me." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I and glanced through. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Of what day?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the there in twenty minutes." "And it is--" "And the murderer?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and